Overseas plantation

NIPPON PAPER GROUP believes that it is important to build good relationships with the local communities around the plantation areas and to develop together. In forest management, based on“Principles and Basic Policies Concerning Raw Materials Procurement”, we take into account the local residents, local culture and traditions, and the natural environment and ecosystem. It also contributes to the local economy by creating jobs and supporting educational activities.

The Group utilizes grasslands, former farm and pasture sites, and areas where planted trees have been felled as reforestation sites. We also select and plant tree species suitable for the local climate and papermaking raw materials, primarily focusing on fast-growing eucalyptus. To balance the mass planting of eucalyptus with the maintenance of biodiversity in the area, we take appropriate measures, such as preserving native vegetation along rivers, which have a significant impact on the ecosystem, as riparian forests.

The Group is further strengthening its proprietary the breeding and propagation technologies to improve forest productivity and improve the efficiency of_CO2 sequestration at overseas plantation sites.

Click here for information about the Group plantation technology

*After the budding update, skip STEP 1 and 2 and go to STEP 3.

Around May, when the rainy season begins, the ground is loosened and tillage work is carried out to create ridges (ridges, streak-like embankments).
As shown in the photo, a device called a pounder is towed by a tractor to stir up the soil and make furrows.
Even within the property, waterways and areas with native vegetation will be protected untouched so as not to affect the local ecosystem. In the nursery, seedlings needed for planting are grown systematically in preparation for shipment during the rainy season.

Trees that have grown to a height of more than 20 meters in about 10 years are cut down using heavy machinery called harvesters.
After the logslogare skinned, they are processed into paper wood chips by machines called chippers installed in plantation areas and wood chips mill.

Usually, the method of renewal is different after the first felling and after the second and subsequent felling.

 

Why plant eucalyptus?

The purpose of our plantation is to create sustainable forest resources that are used as raw materials for paperproduction with our own hands. Therefore, it is necessary to choose tree species that grow quickly and have excellent pulping suitability. Eucalyptus is a representative tree species that met these conditions.

Pulping suitability: Wood chips are steamed to produce pulp that is used as a raw material for paper, but the pulping suitability is judged based on the ease of evaporation and the large amount of wood fibers. Pulping suitability varies greatly depending on the tree species, and it has been found that the suitability of the same tree species varies depending on the age and planting site.

Tree species used for plantation

・Eucalyptus globulus
It has excellent pulping properties and is planted not only in Australia, where it originates, but also in Chile, which belongs to the same climate zone.

・Eucalyptus grandis
Compared to the globulars, they prefer warmer regions.

・Acacia melancy
It prefers almost the same growing environment as Grandis. It has excellent pulping properties and tannins are extracted from the bark. Unlike eucalyptus members, it almost does not germinate after cutting and requires replanting.

・Eucalyptus Eurograndis
It is a hybrid species that is a cross between eucalyptus europhylla and eucalyptus grandis.

By promoting plantation , we aim to sustainably secure forest resources that are raw materials for paperproduction without putting a burden on the environment.

Seedlings of Eurograndis

Where are plantation ?

Our afforestation project involves planting trees on former farm and ranch sites, as well as areas where plantation trees have been felled. The photo shows a plantation in Australia, where you can see that natural forests remain along the water's edge.
In Western Australia, for example, natural forests along the water play an important role in the local environment, such as preventing salt damage. In order not to impair the functions of these natural forests, we are proceeding with theplantation project while fully considering the impact on the environment.

BTP plantation areas
(The inside of the yellow line is the water's edge)

What to do with plantation areas after harvesting?

Plants have the ability to regenerate, and even after being cut down, they grow buds (dormant buds and adventitious buds) in the plant's body, and the buds continue to grow and eventually become the main trunk. Such sprouts are called budding, and the regeneration of forests through budding is called budding renewal.
In particular, eucalyptus globulus has the property of being easy to germinate, so it is renewed by germination. Newly sprouted buds are easily affected by the environment and may be damaged by strong winds or frost. For places where budding renewal does not work well, and for tree species that are difficult to germinate, such as acacia, we will plant and renew them.

Sprout from the stump

How much does plantation tree grow? (Compared to Japan)

The average forest accumulation is around 200 m³/ha for the Australian 10-year-old eucalyptus globulus and 200-300^m3/ha for the domestic 40-year-old Japanese cedar.
Comparing this in a single year, it can be seen that Japanese cedaris 5-8m³/ha compared to 20 m³/ha for Eucalyptus globularus, which is about 2~4 times wide.

　

Domestic Japanese cedar(about 60 years)

Australian eucalyptus
(about 10th grade)